And Baby Makes Three

The quiet that fell after her comment could hardly be described as comfortable. She could almost hear the air crackle with tension.

His brows arched quizzically. “Isn’t that part of what a real marriage implies?”

“Yes,” came the lame concession.

“So what’s the problem?” he infused in an unruffled tone.

She choked out, “The problem is me.”

“In what way?” he persisted.

“Not so loud. We’re going to wake the baby.”

Unable to handle the nature of their conversation being this close to him, she rolled off the bed, careful to leave Bonnie undisturbed. Cole followed her into the hall.

Before she reached the living room she felt a pair of strong male hands close over her shoulders, arresting her movements. His body heat permeated the silky material of her coffee-colored blouson. Combined with his natural scent, it all worked like an aphrodisiac on her senses.

He lifted the silvery gold strands away from her neck. “I’m the one who’s been a fool,” he whispered, letting his lips graze her heated skin. “I’ve been trying to give you time to get used to me. But it appears I’ve unwittingly sent the wrong signal.”

“I-it’s not that-” she tried to tell him, but the feel of his mouth created exquisite pleasure, robbing her of the ability to think clearly.

“Surely you know how much I want you?” His hands slid down her arms to her caress her hips. “I haven’t been able to hide it. Bonnie might have been the catalyst to bring us together this fast, but believe me- I felt the desire to make love to you even as you were evading my questions in front of the ranch house.”

“Cole-” she cried in absolute panic. Much as his admissions thrilled her, she couldn’t let this go on.

His hands stilled against her trembling body. “What is it? I know you want me too. It isn’t something you can hide.”

“I-I’m not trying to. But first there’s something I have to tell you that could change everything.”

He twisted her around. She glimpsed silvery eyes molten with desire. “Don’t be silly,” he murmured against her lips, gripping her waist to bring her against him.

With undeniable mastery he explored her mouth, tasting and finding every part of it. The fire he’d lit was starting to engulf her. This was a husband’s kiss, hot with desire.

Her husband. A man who might not want to claim that title once he’d heard what she had to tell him.

“Please, Cole-” She fought for air, really frightened now, because she could feel herself succumbing to the wanton needs he’d aroused.

“Don’t you under stand I want to please you?” he growled softly against her ear, sending little sparks of delight through her sensitized body.

He was too drugged by passion, too intent on making love to her, to listen. With Bonnie asleep for the next few hours, there was nothing to interfere with this ecstasy.

She shivered voluptuously, because she was drowning in a sensual haze he’d created that was sapping her power to resist him. Somehow they wound up against the wall, their mouths and bodies in satiable.

“Hey, Uncle Cole-”

A young male voice called out with excitement. At first Catherine thought she must have dreamed it.

“Mom said you were back. Where’ve you been?”

The voice was coming closer.

Catherine struggled to surface, but she didn’t make it in time.

“Oops-” the boy exclaimed.

Incredibly it was Cole who managed to ease himself away from her. Luckily she was still pressed up against the wall, which worked as a support until she could compose herself.

Cole turned to their young intruder. She could hear his ragged breathing. “Hey, Gavin-haven’t you learned to knock yet before you barge in on people?”

The dark-haired boy wearing jeans and cowboy boots couldn’t be more than ten. He hunched his shoulders, eyeing his uncle warily. “Sorry. I didn’t know anyone else was here.”

Of course the news that Cole was back had spread. But relief swept through Catherine that John had kept his promise.

“Exactly my point,” Cole barked at his nephew.

Before another word was said, Catherine needed to talk to Cole in private.

“Hi, Gavin,” she spoke up. “If you’ll give me a minute with your uncle, then he’s all yours. Wh-why don’t you go out in the living room?”

He stared at her like she was the great mystery of the ages. “Sure.”

She reached for Cole’s hand and drew him into the second bedroom, shutting the door behind them. When he turned to her, she hardly recognized him for his wintry expression.

His brows had formed a black bar above his eyes. “What’s going on with you?” He grasped her upper arms.

Her throat tightened. “I was trying to tell you b-before you started kissing me. I didn’t know having more children was included in our agreement.”

She felt his fingers tighten around her flesh. “When I explained that I wanted a real marriage, you said you understood.”

“I did, because I realized you meant we’d be sleeping together. But until you mentioned bringing more brothers and sisters into the world I had no idea you’d included that as part of it.”

For a second she thought she saw a glint of pain in those cloudy depths.

“I guess I should have known, but all I had on my mind at the time was Bonnie.” She tried to swallow but couldn’t. “Naturally it’s your dream to rear a family. So what I’m trying to tell you is that it’s still not too late to annul our marriage. That’s why I asked John not to say anything to the family yet.”

Cole’s hard mouth had taken on a whitish tinge. He was livid. She didn’t blame him.

“I’m going to leave for Reno in the next few minutes. All you have to do is explain to Gavin I’m the woman who had your baby, but we couldn’t work things out. After considering what was best for Bonnie, we decided to let you raise her.”

His eyes had formed slits, which caused her to speak faster and faster. “In private you can tell John the whole truth and this will all be over.”

Her eyes glistened, but she refused to cry in front of him. “You’ve won Bonnie legally. She’s where she should be. I’m glad I was the one who could help you, but you’re not in love with me. In time the right woman will come along. Love will happen naturally, the way it’s supposed to. She’ll fill that ache in your heart and give you the family you dreamed of having with Jenny.”

“What’s this about?” came a voice of ice. “Your idea of revenge for the man who destroyed your dreams?”

She backed away from him, shaking her head. “You couldn’t really have asked me that question. I’m doing this to help you attain yours. To satisfy your curiosity, the man you think I was involved with was a pathetic teenager my own age. It was the first time for both of us, and